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AISI: Weekly Raw Steel Output Lowest Since Dec 2020

Written by David Schollaert

November 28, 2022

Raw steel production by US mills fell further last week, bringing output to its lowest weekly total all year. Last week’s result kept both utilization and production at their lowest levels since the week of Dec. 26, 2020, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Domestic steel output was 1,625,000 net tons during the week ending Nov. 26, down 0.2% from the week prior and 11.1% lower than the 1,828,000 tons produced during the same week last year.

Capability utilization was 72.8% last week — also down 0.2 percentage points from 73% the previous week and down 10 percentage points from the same period one year ago when the rate was 82.8%. Capability utilization has now been below the 80% mark for 20 straight weeks.

Adjusted year-to-date production through Nov. 26 now stands at 81,245,000 tons, with an overall utilization rate of 78.5%. Production was 5.2% below the same period last year when it was 85,705,000 tons and capability utilization was at 81.3%, AISI said.

Output declined in two out of the five regions last week, offsetting increases in the Northeast, Midwest, and West. Production in the South district fell 2.7%, or 19,000 fewer tons week on week (WoW), while the Great Lakes saw output decline by 0.6%, down 3,000 tons WoW.

Production by region for the week ending Nov. 26 was as follows: Northeast, 143,000 tons; Great Lakes, 533,000 tons; Midwest, 187,000 tons; South, 690,000 tons; and West, 72,000 tons — for a total of 1,625,000 tons, down by 3,000 tons from the prior week.

WeeklyRawSteelProd Wk46

Note: The raw steel production tonnage provided in this report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage provided by approximately 50% of the domestic production capacity combined with the most recent monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The AISI production report “AIS 7,” published monthly and available by subscription, provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing 75% of US production capacity.

By David Schollaert, David@SteelMarketUpdate.com

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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